Relaxed Denim Shorts Are the Silhouette of the Summer—Starting With These 25 Pairs

Plus, all the styling inspiration you could ever need.

An influencer wearing relaxed denim shorts and a white shirt.
(Image credit: @nlmarilyn)
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I'll admit it: I avoided denim shorts for nearly a decade and would go so far as to say I was a bona fide hater. In my defense, the short cutoffs with low rises à la American Eagle were the only style option I had for many years, and if it wasn't already obvious, I'm not exactly a big fan of skintight denim shorts and actively avoided wearing them. All that is to say, I'm breathing a huge sigh of relief now that relaxed styles are becoming a thing. While those tighter fits are still out there, it's becoming increasingly easier to find looser-fitting shapes and shorts with more forgiving leg-opening measurements. (A good measure of thumb is roughly around 25 inches or higher for looser fits and around 21 inches or lower for tighter styles.)

Relaxed shorts are just so much easier to wear and the more comfortable option, but now, they've become the trendy way to wear denim shorts too. If you're on board with the relaxed look or are interested in testing the waters this season, I've pulled together my edit of the best relaxed denim shorts on the market, from a top-rated Levi's style to cool, minimalistic Bermudas. Since outfit curations are one of my favorite hobbies, I've included several styling ideas to inspire your outfit choices along the way.

The Top 5 Relaxed Denim Shorts

— Best for the Workplace: AGOLDE Dame Shorts ($178)

— Best for Summer Weekends: FRAME Le Easy Denim Shorts ($94)

— Best Vacation Style: CITIZENS OF HUMANITY Brynn Denim Shorts ($240)

— Best for Styling with a Blazer: NILI LOTAN Russel Denim Shorts ($350)

— Best Affordable Option: H&M Denim Shorts ($25)

An influencer wearing relaxed denim shorts and a camel sweater

(Image credit: @anoukyve)

An influencer wearing a cream cardigan and relaxed denim shorts.

(Image credit: @deborabrosa)

An influencer wearing relaxed denim shorts and a white shirt.

(Image credit: @nlmarilyn)

An influencer wearing relaxed denim shorts and a button-down shirt.

(Image credit: @slipintostyle)

An influencer wearing relaxed denim shorts with a blue shirt and sandals.

(Image credit: @saraloura)

An influencer wearing relaxed denim Bermuda shorts with a white tank.

(Image credit: @angelafink)

An influencer wearing baggy denim shorts with ballet flats

(Image credit: @thelouloudesaison)

FAQs

What is relaxed denim?

Relaxed denim refers to styles that have a looser, more comfortable fit compared to skinny or slim styles. Typically, they have a straight or slightly tapered leg and offer extra room for movement, giving off an effortlessly cool, laid-back look. I personally love making any style feeling relaxed by going up a size.

Why trustBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing ?

Who What Wear is a trusted source because it's built by experienced editors who have experience in expert-backed insights, trend forecasting, and product recommendations that are both stylish and wearable. Oh, and I think each and every one of us has a really great pair of relaxed denim shorts on hand.

This post was published at an earlier date and has since been updated.

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Anna LaPlaca
Senior Editor

Anna is an NYC-based senior fashion editor who has been a member of theBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing team for over seven years, having begun her career in L.A. at brands like Michael Kors and A.L.C. As an editor, she has earned a reputation for her coverage of breaking trends, emerging brands, luxury shopping curations, fashion features, and more. Anna has penned a numberBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing cover interviews, including Megan Fox, Julia Garner, and Lilly Collins. She also leads the site’s emerging travel vertical that highlights all things travel and lifestyle through a fashion-person lens.

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